Iphigenia was taken into French service as
Iphigénie, under
Pierre Bouvet, who had assumed command of the French squadron at Grand Port after Duperré was wounded, and had been promoted to Acting Captain 2nd class. She formed a squadron with
Astrée and
Entreprenant. On 12 September 1810, Bouvet's squadron intercepted
HMS Africaine (under Captain
Robert Corbet) off Saint-Denis, as the frigate , the sloop and the brig were sailing from the bay of Saint-Paul. Bouvet lured the British into pursuit until midnight. He sent
Astrée forwards, as if
Iphigénie would attempt to slow
Africaine down to allow the rest of the squadron to flee. At three,
Astrée regained her place at the rear of the squadron; the weather, which had been rough, improved somewhat, and in the moonlight
Astrée suddenly found herself within gun range of
Africaine, with
Boadicea,
Otter and
Staunch out of sight. A gunnery duel followed immediately, in which
Astrée had her rigging damaged; she closed in to
Iphigénie,
Africaine in close pursuit.
Africaine soon found herself under fire from
Iphigénie at point blank range, her guns still trained at
Astrée. After exchanging broadsides and small arms fire for half an hour, during which the French had the upper hand, the British attempted a boarding.
Iphigénie easily eluded
Africaine, and gave
Astrée an opportunity for raking ''Africaine's
bow. At 4:30, Africaine'' struck her colours. All ''Africaine's'' officers had been killed or wounded in the action, save for Colonel Barry, and only 69 men were uninjured. Bouvet was given Corbet's dagger, which he kept in his personal possession. The French abandoned
Africaine and
Boadicea recaptured her the next day. On 3 December 1810, the Isle de France fell to the British. The British took over the ships moored at the island, including
Iphigénie,
Bellone and
Astrée. They recommissioned
Iphigénie, returning her to service as
Iphigenia. Captain Thomas Caulfield then sailed her home to Britain where she was paid off in April 1811. ==Return to British service==